Running Lights not lighting

[Barmoor]

We have a Volvo V70 (2009) towing a Swift Charisma 220 (2002). Twin electrics on caravan 13 pin connection on car. Towbar and electrics fitted 6 weeks ago. Caravan serviced two weeks ago. Electrics connected via a adaptor.

Set off yesterday on our holiday. Everything working great - lights indicators, breaks lights, running lights. Slight rainy conditions. After about 100 miles running lights went out. Checked and indicators and break lights still working.

Got to site and checked fuses in caravan appeared to be OK. But running lights still not working.

Can anyone please advise what our next step should be? RAC dont do caravans.

Really looking forward to your response. On this site for another 8 nights.

Linda

 

[Barmoor]

Sorry for duplicate entry - pressed the button twice.

 

[Barmoor]

Am working with mobile broadband - signal flakey and computer battery running low. Will sign in again later

Bye for now

 

[Sproket]

Linda

I think that you have you got water into your adapter ? & its shorted if you have a multimeter with you, check that you are getting power from the pins on the 13pin socket for your lights, if that's ok check your adapter & the bulbs in the light units...

If i were you i would junk the adapter and put both sets of wires into a 13pin plug !! you then have only one connection & its waterproof & less things to go wrong (

Let us know if you get it sorted )

 

[Barmoor]

Thanks Sproket. Just been able to get on line. We have a chap coming out from an auto electrician tomorrow so that he can check things out. At the start of a six week tour. Will be a while before we can get the wiring changed on the caravan.

Will let you know how we get on (if we can get online)

Regards - Linda

 

[Barmoor]

Well the auto engineer didnt turn up yesterday. Says if it does not rain (understandable) he will come today Thursday between 2 and 3. Fingers crossed.

Just a thought - when you look at a 5 amp blade fuse - is the wire supposed to be a straight line or bent downwards like a U shape. Our 5 amp fuse for the lights is like a U

Would welcome your advice.

Will post back if this chap turns up.

Regards - Linda

 

[Sproket]

Linda

The best type of blade fuse i have found are the ones with a LED on top, when the fuse blows the led lights up so you can see it strait away.....

They can be strait or 'U' bent....

Smart Blade fuse with LED

I seem to remember that there was a problem a while ago with the cheap blade fuse's overheating & melting (

 

[xtrailman]

Linda

you can clearly see if the fuse has blown, the wire inside will be broken.

 

[nelmo]

I had that happen to me a couple of times - turned out to be a 10A fuse in the car (one of my rear car lights went as well). I changed it for a 15A fuse and all OK now...

 

[xtrailman]

niel

i just hope that your car wiring will take 15amp, other wise you risk car fire?

Its poor practise to increase fuse ratings with out first checking the wiring is rated to carry 15amp for eg

 

[Barmoor]

Hello everyone and thanks again for responding.

Update on lights the Auto Engineer came out today as promised (rang before he came to make sure we were here.

Cut a long story short, nothing wrong with the fuses in the caravan, nothing wrong with the wiring to the car or the adapter - what was wrong was when I had the new tow bar and 13 pin socket fitted by a reputable, highly qualified tow bar specialist at his premises, the wiring inside the car was not connected sufficiently. It had become disconnected when we came over a bump somewhere (probably A9 at Kinross). This was only about 240 miles since the tow bar and electrics were fitted.

What did really surprise me was the whole nest of wires and black insulating tape inside the cubbyhole where the Volvo's wiring harness sits. I thought that a car produced after September 2008 had to have 13 pin electrics fitted and therefore would only need a socket connection inside the car. Would appear to be wrong in this case. ???

Magic to see the lights on. I am going to order a supply of blade fuses though, just in case.

All is well that ends well.

Cheers

Linda

PS Setting off for our next leg next Tuesday. Fingers crossed.

 

[Barmoor]

Linda

The best type of blade fuse i have found are the ones with a LED on top, when the fuse blows the led lights up so you can see it strait away.....

They can be strait or 'U' bent....

Smart Blade fuse with LED

I seem to remember that there was a problem a while ago with the cheap blade fuse's overheating & melting (

Like the look of those Sproket. Will order some when we return home.

 

[Sproket]

By the sounds of it they have not used a dedicted plug in wiring harness ........

But at least you are all up & running again...

I have heard of this happening before, maybe it the price:

13pin dedicated wiring harness

 

[Barmoor]

WOW no wonder they used insulating tape.

 

[MikeA]

Hi Linda,

Sounds like the job was a little bit botched, perhaps to keep costs down, perhaps because of ignorance. Are you sure that they did the Volvo software upgrade on the car?

There are a few settings in the CPU programming that need to be changed when the car is towing and can sense the 13 pin socket is in use. For example does the trailer towing indicator light on the dashboard flash (it is at the top of the left hand side of the instrument binnacle) when you use your turn indicators; the rear park assist (if it is fitted) should not go off when you reverse with the caravan on; the rear fog lamp on the car should not work when you are towing, only the one on the caravan. There are also some more subtle changes made to the way the car handles but they may be more difficult to detect.

Cheers

Mike A

(serial Volvo driver)